Dye composition.



"UNITE STATd ATNT (llt ll lli /E.

'EDI'IH ONEIL MACDONALD, OF ST. REGIS FALLS, NEW YORK.

DYE COMPOSITION.

No Drawing.

To alhvkom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mrs. Enrrn ()Nnn. l\[.\coox.-\Ln. a citizen of the l nited States, and resident of St. Regis Falls, in the county of Franklin and State of New York, have invented and discovered a new and useful llvel omposition.of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a dye. composition, and it pertains more particularly to a dye obtained from hardwood leaves. such as maple leaves, by suitable methods of extraction.

I have found that when the autumnal colored leaves of certain hardwood trees such as maple are heated with water,*a large proportion of coloring matter is extracted which is characterized by its valuable dyeing qualities.

The leaves most suitable for my purpose are those in which the n tural change of color from green to red or brown has 00- curred. I consider it desirable to use leaves winch have been exposed to frost, since the extracts from such leaves appear to have better dyeing qualities, perhaps due to a rupturing of the plant cells and oxidation of some of the constituents of the leaf.

As an illustration of the manner in which the extraction may be carried out, the following example is iven About a bushel packed down) of fallen brown maple leaves is placed in an extraction vessel, such as an ordinary copper boiler, of about twelve gallons capacity, and enough Water (preferably soft water) is added to cover the leaves. The mixture is brought to boiling, and boiled for some time until the desired degree of extraction has been reached. The extract is thenfiltered off and concentrated, .the concentration being continued, if desired, until a thick viscous liquid is, obtained. Instead of. boiling the, same may be heated with water or steeped in a cold ammonia solution. The ammonia can then be .driven olf by any well known process.

" The extract thus produced is of a dark brownish color, and may .be made into a paste or mixed withjsuitable fillers. It produces on W001 and silk, colors fast to light Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 11, 1916.

Patented Apr. Ind, Elilidi.

Serial No. 136,318.

and washing. Wool is dyed a golden brown, while with white satin a brilliant gold is ob taiued. The dye obtained is non-poisonous and does not have a disagreeable odor.

Among the many advantages which derive from my invention. in addition to the value ble dyeing qualities of the product, there may be mentioned the low cost of production due to the simplicity of the process and the plentiful supply of raw material. This raw material is a perennial crop which can be used year after year without a fleeting the source of supply, whereas when wood or bark forms the raw material the source of supply in any one locality tends to become exhausted. The trees bearing leaves which are suitable in this connection, are indigenous to a vast expanse of territory comprising the hardwood belt of the United States and Canada. so that plants or factories for mamifaeturing the dye may be conveniently located and have a plentiful supply of-leaves without incurring the expense which would result from transporting the raw material over long distances.

The residue obtained as a byproduct may be used as a' fertilizer, containing elements which are essential to plant growth. The by-product is also valuable in that the pulp or pomace may be used as a paper pulp.

lVhile the above disclosure is what is now believed to be the preferred embodiment of my invention. I do not wish to limit myself to the steps as above outlined, but wish it understood that the invention is susceptible to various modifications that may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Vhat I claim is:

1. As a new product. a material containing a dye which dye is obtainable by extraction of the coloring matter from autumnal col ored leaves of a hardwood tree. and which is substantially free from its naturally associated'fibrous tissue. 7 C

2. As a new dye, a composition coniprising the coloring matter substantially free from its naturally associated fibrous tissue, of the autumnal colored leaves of a hard wood tree, said coloring matter dyeing wool and silk shades having good fastness to light and Washing".

3. As a new dye, a water extract of the coldyeing Wool and silk generally brown shades 10 oring matter of the autumnal colored leaves having good fastness to light and Washing. of a hardwood tree, said coloring matter 5. As a new dye, a Water extract of the dyeing WOOl and silk shades haying good coloring matter of brown maple leaves, said 5 fastness to light and Washing. extract characterized by dyeing W001 and 4. As a new dye, a composition comprissilk brown shades having good fastness to 15 ing the coloring matter, substantially free light and Washing.

from its naturally associated fibrous tissue, 7 of brown maple leaves, said coloring matter (Meal EDITH ONEIL MACDONALD. 

